A NURSE has escaped a driving ban after he was caught speeding on a Worcestershire road.

Douglas Langdon was at risk of being disqualified because he already had nine penalty points on his driving licence before this offence.

But the 61-year-old self-employed nurse argued special measures that too many other people dependent on him would suffer if he was banned.

Lisa Mayne, prosecuting, said an unmanned speed camera on the A4184 recorded Langdon’s vehicle as travelling towards Evesham at 35mph in a 30mph zone about 8.45am on Monday, March 2.

Defending himself, Langdon said he was driving a severely disabled man to Evesham on that morning.

“I had gone round a roundabout and his wheelchair became unsteady,” he said. “He called out so I turned around quickly to see whether he was OK. I was trying to reassure him.”

Langdon, of Hammock Road, Eckington, near Pershore, accepted he was speeding at the time.

He produced evidence to the court that showed he looked after patients at various locations across the West Midlands.

“If I was banned I would obviously have to drop those clients,” said Langdon.

He said his wife, a retired nurse, could not drive him long distances because she suffers from arthritis in both feet.

Langdon said he often looks after his daughter’s 18-month-old son while she is at work but that requires him to drive to Droitwich very early in the morning.

Magistrates added three points onto Langdon’s driving licence taking the total to 12 but did not disqualify him. He was fined £60 and ordered to pay £60 court costs as well as a £15 victim surcharge.